"Well, sir," said the maid, "the lady came in to look for something she brought with her when she came here."
"I remember!" cried Kitson, "she told me she had brought away something very curious from van Heerden's house and made me guess what it was. Something interrupted our talk—what was it?"
"Well, sir," said the maid, resigned, "I won't tell you a lie, sir. It was a pawn ticket."
"A pawn ticket!" cried Kitson and Beale in unison.
"Are you sure?" asked the latter.
"Absolutely sure, sir."
"But she couldn't have brought a pawn ticket from van Heerden's house. What was it for?"
"I beg your pardon, sir."
"What was on the pawn ticket?" said Kitson impatiently. "What article had been pledged?"
Again the girl hesitated. To betray her mistress was unpleasant. To betray herself—as she would if she confessed that she had most carefully and thoroughly read the voucher—was unthinkable.